San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-09
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was! There WIS no one here to compare
with him, Valerie said to herself, as she
met the bright smile that flashed into his
dark eyes
He came straight to her at once, and
clasped her little hand in his strong, firm
clasp.
All Miss Herbert" he said, softly,
bending down. with just glance at the
bouquet in her hsnd-he had seen it the
Instant he entered the room-"you are too
good to me, How shall thank yous"
No, nO!' she answered, shaking her
al, rather how shall thank UoItl 1t
vps so kind of you TO think Of me!-and
tie flowers are the most lovely Icversaw. ="
''ind yet scarcely worthy of their queen
"'Queen lily and rose in one
sid Beauregard, drawing her hand on his
ann.
DO you learn complimentary lines Of
poetry for use on various occasions" asked
the girl, archly.
What cruel implication! am sure
have not deserved it. VIII you not credit
me with sometimes speaking as Think
They were sauntering slowly throu IN
the rooms, and as they went men turned
to look at Valerie, and the whisper Travelled
from mouth to mouth:
"WhO is shel What an rNGIlisitely-lovely
girl" "Who is that beautiful girl with
Reauregard?" And Mrs. Fanshawe was
bcsieged with requl sts for an introduction.
Valerie answered her companions:
Then | should have to be very vain'
Was she innocent or cOquettish. He
glanced at her keenly. Could she be ig-
nnrant of her own supreme right to COM
pliment, even before she entered these
rooms? And now did she not see and hear'
II will ask you by-andby," he said, light
ly, after pause, 'if you still find you r
Corollary good"
What do YOU mean, Captain Beaure-
gardf-you are talking riddles" said the
girl, raising her eyes to his; but the smile,
the look she met startled her with more
than an inkling of his meaning; it was the
admiration which says-"YOu ask, Am
beautiful? Can you not divine-dO you
not knOw-that you are?" Admiration
refined, ennobled by reverence, but un.
yelled.
The girls eyes sank, her color rose, her
heart throbbed with an emotion wholly
new, bewildering; all her pulses thrilled.
Was this it-this what Max Beauregard
meant? Was she so beautiful-far more
beautiful than many Of these fair women
she saw around her? And he thought her
so: it was not in idle compliment he spoke!
The hand that rested on his arm trem-
bled; she glanced around her half-nervous-
ly, and saw men, and women, too, looking
at her; she turned to Max Beauregard in a
kind of mute appeal, like child frightened
by some wonderful and unexpected revela-
ton, and again he smiled his bright, half
tender smile, and said, softly:
Forgive me! you would find it out to-
night, if you have never yet known it.
Here comes Mrs. Fanshawe"-he changed
tone and manner-"to rob me, and tell me
am usurping more than my share of hap
piness."
And Valerie was led away, half dazed
with the new sensations that filled her,
with Max BeGuregard's last words ringing
In her ears, to have a dozen men presented
to her in succession, and to give her hand
for the first dance to Colonel Lord Dem
more, commandant Of the garrison at -,
and man of no small consequence.
She was beautiful. She knew the truth;
but as yet not its power. Her pleasure
was that Max Beauregard thought her so.
Ohl fatal gift Of beauty When she
knew the full measure of all that gift CON
ferred, how would she use it?